Category: garden

Costa Rica, a small country in Central America, has gained a great deal of popularity, not also as a tourist destination, but also as a retirement paradise. The only type of gambling that is legal in Costa Rica is in casinos, of which there are over 30 in the country, the majority in San Jose, the capital. Costa Rica, or “rich coast” in Spanish, is considered the most politically stable country in Latin America, with perhaps the healthiest climate in the world, and one that welcomes over 1.5 million tourists a year. The abundant flora and fauna, the diverse scenery, and the lively excitement of the Costa Rica casinos have brought in billions of dollars to the economy.

Costa Rica casinos feature all the popular international games including mini baccarat (rummy 9), Let It Ride (tute accion), roulette, blackjack, Caribbean Stud Poker, craps, pai gow, slots, and video gaming machines. Club Colonial Casino with 45 slots and 12 table games, the Garden Court Fiesta Casino Alajuela with 200 slots and 84 table games, and the Gran Hotel Costa Rica Casino, with 57 slots and five table games, are all located in downtown San Jose. In addition, there are other Costa Rica casinos in small towns and suburbs of San Jose including Cabo Velas Santa Cruz, Cariari, and El Roble. Hotel Coco Verde Casino in Playas del Coco has 20 slots and four table games.

The largest Costa Rica casino is the Irazu Best Western Casino Concorde in La Uruca, with 166 slots and video gaming machines and eight table games. There is a large casino in Goicoechea, a suburb of San Jose, the Radisson Hotel and Casino Europa, which has 219 slots and 13 table games.

A number of gaming expositions and international conferences are held here, including the annual poker industry conference. This event will take place in Costa Rica in December of 2006 at the Marriott Hotel in San Jose. In conjunction with the conference, there will be a poker tournament at the Fiesta Casino for industry executive and professional poker players, who will demonstrate their strategies and skills.

Costa Rica has become a major gambling destination in Latin America and further development of Costa Rica casinos by domestic and international investors is ongoing. The large corporation of Thunderbird Tres Rios is planning construction of a hotel resort, casino, spa, and residential complex that will attract more of the middle and upper class sections of eastern San Jose.…

A home putting green is quite useful. It'll make your game better without having the need to visit the golf course regularly. It also enables you to invite friends over for a round of mini golf. Because of this, having one in your own home is considered useful by many golfers. This is especially true for beginners who want to improve their game play.

3 Advantages Of A Synthetic Putting Green

Doubles As A Landscape

If the woman of the house is not too eager about the putting green because it would take up her garden space in the backyard, you can have your putting green double as a landscape. There are companies that install ornamental plants and fountains to make it also look like a landscape. The positioning and styling of the landscape is strategically done so that you can still practice your game on your green while having space for the garden.

This will get rid of the rivalry of spouses on who will have the right to use the backyard and turn it into a garden or a putting green. Also, this will make the house much more attractive. By having a backyard that is both useful and beautiful, you will make your home even more eye-catching. This will also make your practice nicer – because of the ambiance that the flowering plants and the fountain would give on your putting green.

Easier To Install

Because a synthetic green is often manufactured according to the specifications of the buyer, it is easier to install. You will not need any gardening supplies just to install it in your backyard because the grass is synthetic. You only have to have the synthetic turf installed according to your specifications and designs. You can also install the turf on your own. Just purchase artificial turf at the store of your choice and you can easily have your own in your backyard. Better yet, buy one online.

Requires Little To No Maintenance

A synthetic green requires very little maintenance because the grass does not grow. You do not need to mow it because the grass is synthetic and will not grow even a bit. It would also never require fertilizers and other stuff that natural grass would need to stay healthy and beautiful.

There are also zero chances of getting pests because insects and pests will not get attracted on the grass that they can not eat or make as their home. Because of this, you will have less headaches.

Many people believe that owning a home putting green demands too much effort because of maintenance. This could be quite true if the one in your own home is not a synthetic one. A natural green in your backyard may take up a lot of time because it needs constant maintenance. But if your home putting green is a synthetic one, it will save you a lot of time and resources. …

Your wedding is one of the most special days of your life. It is a day for you to feel like a princess in a fairytale. One of the best ways to create this magical atmosphere is with an outdoor garden wedding. And for the centerpiece of your wedding, among the beautiful flowers and decorations of nature, is a beautiful wedding gazebo.

A wedding gazebo can set the stage for a wedding as a beautiful decorative structure that is part of the ceremony. For an outdoor garden wedding, a wedding gazebo is about the only decoration you will need since the beautiful flowers surrounding the area create natural décor. Many wedding gazebos are made of wood and are often painted in white, which is very complimentary to the attire of the bride and groom.

A wedding gazebo also serves as a platform for beautiful pictures and the place that you will say “I do”. One of the problems people sometimes have with outdoor weddings is the fact that the bride and groom are on ground level along with everyone else. This often makes it difficult for guests to see the ceremony when it is taking place. By having the bride and groom on the wedding gazebo, they are elevated above everyone else, making the wedding a more meaningful and enjoyable experience for friends and family.

If you are looking for a way to bring a fairytale atmosphere to your wedding, consider having an outdoor wedding with a wedding gazebo as the centerpiece. It will be one of the best days of your life that you will always cherish.…

If you are looping for some great brick wall ideas for landscaping, why not visit your local home improvement store? They usually offer a full range of books on all major home improvement topics. These books will have lots of full color photos and designs that will gave you endless ideas for using brick walls when landscaping. Of course, doing an online search is also an option. Just by doing a quick Google search you will be able to find lots of free images, layouts and design ideas. These can also be very useful to get ideas from and will help you in the planning stage of your landscaping project.

When doing the actual landscaping work you will find that working with brick is very different from working with plants or even rocks. Your reasons for using brick will usually have very little to do with your garden, flower beds or turf lawn. If you are not sure of what your options are exactly, you may want to ask an expert ñason for advice. Brick walls can present challenges you may not be aware of. Some walls can only be built to a certain height before they become unstable. Others will need to be built with a solid footing in order to ensure their stability.

One popular and attractive way to use brick walls is by making a wall that has lattice patterns in it. You can make plants grow around the openings and they provide a way to peek into the yard, sparking people’s curiosity. If you like you can also make openings for your pets or even bigger ones for people to walk trough. Another option is to include shelves for plants, pots and other decorative objects. You can also make curved walls, use different colors of brick, the options are endless.…

Everyone likes success in their life. However, Success is not a fairy tale that revolves around the element of miracle and imagination. Rather, a person has to pass through the realities of life to understand what is success. As the two eyes are essential for biological life, there exist three 'I's which are indispensable for successful life. Certainly, the possession and employment of them ensure achievement and contentment of any individual. They also help to bring discipline and efficiency in all walks of our life. The three 'I's are discussed hereunder.

Interest : A person should develop the interest in whatever he does. Else, not only the efforts and time spent will be in vain but breeds discontent among the surrounding people. In the same way, over-enthusiasm is also not preferred. Maintaining the interest in anything needs grit and tenacity of the person.

Initiative forms the second step in reaching the desired target. Having interest alone does not suffice to get the result. One should take efforts to plan well and expend the resources, including the time and faith in others. Moreover, one must take new and consistent steps to overcome any foreseeable adversities. Remaining optimistic with a positive mindset tends to produce new ideas.

Involvement . This is the critical stage for guaranteeing success, and it refers to 'Staying alert and sticking to the set course of actions.' In case of any setback or deviation, there will not be any loss of interest or initiative. Rather, the determined mind keeps faith and moves ahead with confidence. Because Persistent efforts produce success extremely.

Simply having interest would not yield results unless a person takes concerted efforts to stick to that and continue in that direction without any loss of focus. The effects of the three 'I's can be understood with an example.

A gardener keeps working without bothering about who visits the garden and how much wages he gets. Because he has a deep interest and attachment to the task and takes all initiatives to grow all species of plants and trees. His involvement in the garden is immense that he never feels it as a work or duty but enjoys it. Naturally, the owner of the garden is not only bound to appreciate and reward his sincere servant but bears the responsibility to take care of the welfare of the gardener.

Success by itself Can not be the life but sweetens the latter. Anything that helps in the spread of peace and happiness in the world amounts to success. …

Caterpillars remind me of my garden, eating the plantation, small, harmless, maybe even cute but annoying to the plant life with no risk to me, children or my pets. Ask me about procession caterpillars and I will give you a completely different answer. Friend or foe?

Foe would not even begin to describe these characters, they are the enemy and should be avoided at all costs. Enemy probably sounds too strong a description for a little hairy caterpillar but trust me, do not make a judgment because of its size or because you have always liked them.

Found across Europe, especially in Mediterranean countries where the temperatures are generally warmer, specifically titled Thaumatopoea Pitycampa or the caterpillar of the pine tree. They are considered a threat to the trees, dangerous to animals and to people can cause a very strong allergic reaction caused by the hairs found on their backs.

Traditionally, the nests are found in the pine trees and their home is usually positioned on the sunny side of the tree and can often be spotted from a distance where the pine needles have turned brown.

On closer inspection, white candy floss woven on the branches and delicate silk bags can be seen decorating the trees. These are the nests of the procession caterpillar, protecting them as they grow and keeping them warm.

To feed, they leave the safety of their home at night and walk along the branches to demolish and quake on the pine tree, venturing further afield once they depleted the supplies. They are greedy and destructive and are active in the winter months, often feeding in zero temperatures before returning to the nest to rest and digest their feed in the warmer, sunlight hours.

In March when they are fully grown they commemorate the next stage of their journey, leaving the safety of the nest and tree in search of a burial site.

Why are they named procession caterpillars? When they start to move, they look as though they are marching, like an army in a line, head to tail determined to find a suitable pupation site in the soil. They may travel long distances from the host tree before they bury themselves, spending the warmer months buried as a pupa. In August, the moth emerges from its cocoon, mates and lays its eggs in a pine tree and the cycle commences all over again.

We have lived in Spain for several years now and we have a lovely pet dog named Angel, who is a West Highland Terrier, who loves to prey to hunt and explore the woods around the pine trees. We have never experienced any problems and for the majority of the year it is a safe and pleasant place to walk. During the first quarter of the year, January through April we do have to be vigilant and we prefer to find other areas to walk.

The beginning of the year is the most dangerous time for exposure to the caterpillars, …

Certainly the most ‘unburmese’ yet one of the best known cities and favourite tourist sites in Burma is a formerly very small Shan-Danu village that the locals call ‘Pyin Oo Lwin’. It is located in the Shan hills, some 42 miles/68 kilometres north-east of and some 3.220 ft/976 metres higher than Mandalay from where to get here takes about 2.5 hours by car. Starting in Mandalay one has first to pass the plain north of Mandalay and then drive through the steadily climbing foothills of the Shan mountains.

What Pyin Oo Lwin (1.070 metres/3.510 feet above sea level) has in common with Nurwaelya in Sri Lanka and Dajiling in India are three things: they are all hill stations, have all a pleasant temperate weather and are all very British. This because all of them were created by the British as a reminder of the ‘Old Country’.

What Pyin Oo Lwin was and still is it owes to the facts that it lies at a strategically important point in Upper Burma, that it has an even during and at the height of the hot season very pleasant ‘European’ micro-climate and to a British officer of the Royal Bengal Infantry: Colonel May.

After the last member of the Konbaung dynasty and last and very cruel Burmese King Thibaw (under whose short, seven-years merciless reign (1878 to 1885) every year many thousands of Burmese were murdered) had spend little time to severely alienating the British by, among others, sending his forces into the territory of then British India. Upper Burma was within two weeks effortlessly occupied by the British colonial forces in 1885 and Colonel May stationed at the hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin in 1887. He ‘founded’ the town, then named in combination of his name ‘May’ and the Burmese term for town ‘Myo’, ‘Maymyo’, which is the name the town is mainly known by especially outside Burma.

Maymyo, the small town with its many Tudor-style brick and timber houses that has once been Burma’s best known and most popular hill station has plenty to offer to both foreign visitors and locals. This also goes for its surroundings – well known for their natural beauty made of and comprising green, tree-covered hillsides and picturesque waterfalls.

Something that immediately upon arrival in Maymyo catches the eye is the somewhat out-of-place and out-of-time appearing mode of transportation; very romantic, horse/pony-drawn, brightly painted and picturesque enclosed miniature coaches from bygone times. These carriages offer sufficient space to sit in for two passengers but get a bit overcrowded with four adult passengers squeezed into it.

Depending on the view one takes or equation one prefers they are looking like coming just out of either London’s pre-automobile streets or the American Wild West’s Wells Fargo days. However, the stage coach is Maymyo’s chief means of transport. Around town the ride in them is a little bumpy on the hard seats, though. But that quickly pales into insignificance against the backdrop of this small but in many …

Think this is a redundant, stupid or foolish question? Then why not go back to your daily “to do” list. If not – read on you might see a few things differently as a result.

First of all, let me state the obvious – everyone in life faces adversity, trials, hardships etc. of some kind in life sooner or later. No one is privileged to escape pain while they live their life journey – whether financial, relationship, career, business or health.

Before I move on let me state one more common obvious fact – no one handles, reacts, manages or deals with life’s issues the same as everyone else. Some use them to whine and complain – others use them to grow, improve or mature. While others sit there in a coma wondering – what should I (can I) do?

Before we move on however, I’m sure you know which camp you are in the whining one hopefully this article will be of value to you. If you are in the growing camp I’m sure you know someone who is in the whining group, so why not read it and then forward it to them – you never know – it might just be what they need today.

OK, back to my message.

Success can teach us many things – what works, what feels good, what is of value in our life or the life of others, that we are on the right path and doing the right things etc. But, here’s the problem with successes lessons – they tend to prevent us from looking at what isn’t working or wrong or how what we are doing could be working even better. Consistent success tends to keep people stuck – yes, they have had many success benefits but imagine for a moment if they could achieve even better success if they would learn to see past their success to what could be?

Everyone has achieved some degree of success in some areas of their life whether raising great kids or creating a wonderful backyard garden or building a successful business from scratch. These are all worthy accomplishments but again I ask you – if you could have accomplished even more (a better garden, better kids, better business etc.) would you have settled for what you achieved knowing you could have done more that was within your skills or power?

Success is not just about achievement or winning but serving, giving back, learning and the journey. Today’s successes can be tomorrow’s failures. No success is guaranteed to last for a lifetime or even years. Success like life is a process but if success keeps you from learning then you are missing what real success is – going past your own definition of your potential and seeing life from a broader perspective.

I’m not saying we can ever see our life or our future from God’s perspective but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t try and see it from a wiser or …

Hard work is rewarding. There are no two opinions about it. The body and mind, however, need a break to enable them to function at optimum efficiency levels. That is one facet of hard work that most of us fail to realize.

In situations where you are trying to make a niche for yourself for a quantum jump in life later on, you tend to forget that you need to give a rest to your mind and body periodically. Many working couples get so occupied with their work and deadlines that they fail to give themselves time to relax and have fun. Due to no evident reason, you may find that your efficiency at work is deteriorating.

Weekend breaks prove to be very beneficial in overcoming fatigue. These tantamount to small holidays and can be managed very easily if you make a conscious effort. Weekend breaks revitalize your mind, ease tensions, and enthuse when you return to work. Weekend breaks, in fact, are worth the effort you make to take them.

Weekend vacations are expensive, what with cost of travel shooting up and even bread and breakfast joints charging prohibitive rates. A weekend holiday, sometimes, becomes a bit of a problem especially for those who want to save up to build a capital for future.

There are other options too for weekend breaks which are economic and at the same time as beneficial as a vacation. It is just a matter of applying your mind to the find ways to take one. If you make up your mind on weekend breaks, making it a part of your schedule is a prerequisite. Unless you fix weekend break timing in your schedule, you will keep on procrastinating it due to one reason or the other. Once you have done that you can look at myriad options and as you keep on taking weekend breaks regularly, you will automatically come across new ideas.

The idea behind such inexpensive weekend breaks is simply to spend quality time with you spouse and / or family. Try scheduling one for Saturday and another for the Sunday. You can look at tending the flowers and the garden together. Take a bike ride together or with a friend. You could even try cooking and cleaning up the kitchen together rather than taking turns. Sometimes it is as simple as sharing dessert with neighbors or a visit to the nearby pub.

The purpose behind a weekend break is not necessarily going out of town but spending and enjoying quality time together with the family, forgetting business and office worries for some time. …

The water used should only be distilled water. Tap water can contain impurities which can interfere with the aesthetics and aromatic qualities of a cologne. The alcohol provides a solvent for the other ingredients. It also releases fragrance as it evaporates. The fragrance can be any floral oil, essential herbal oil, liquid gums and resins you desire to provide fragrance. The fixing agent could have various gums and resins, however, glycerin is an excellent fixative for colognes, as it is already a liquid and blends easily with other liquids. The fixing agents job is to maintain the fragrances integrity.

Steps to Creating Cologne From Flowers

Using flowers to make cologne is probably the oldest method of cologne making. If you have a favorite flower in your garden and want to make a cologne from it's blossoms, this will work well for you.

First, fill a Mason jar with flower petals, packing them in tightly. Add distilled water to the jar until it is 3/4 full, then add 2 tablespoons of liquid vegetable oil. (Avoid highly scented oils, such as peanut oil, as they will interfere with your fragrance.) Finally, add 1 ounce of unscented rubbing alcohol. Cover the jar with a tight lid and shake contents thoroughly. Set the jar aside remembering to shake it a couple of times a day, or as often as you like, as shaking the jar will agitate the ingredients and speed up the cologne making process.

As the flower pets became fitted with water, the cellular membranes burst. This releases essential oils, as well as some of the coloring pigments. These floral oils escape into the water and cling to the vegetable oil. The alcohol acts as a solvent, dissolving the oils so that they mix with the water.

After a few days, pour the liquid cologne into jars for storage and discard the solids. To keep your cologne pure from some of the settlement, pour your cologne through cheesecloth. Now, add your glycerin. Use 1 ounce of glycerin to a quart of cologne.

Tip for Creating Cologne Faster

If you do not want to wait a couple of days, you can always speed up the process by placing the jar in a sunny window. As the sun worms the jar, you will be able to see the petals' cellular breakdown and release of essential oils. By using this method you can often have a cologne in the same or next day, rather than having to wait a few days. Be sure the jar is kept tightly covered. Remember, agitating it from time to time will speed up the process of dispersing the essential oils.

If you've been reading my blog, you know I like to do things as easy as possible. With all the fantastic essential oils available you can make or mimic many of the name brand colognes. The following recipe is just an example. To change the fragrance, just …